Focus Media (Kigali)
Timothy Kisambira
10 January 2009
Nyungwe forest, one of the richest biotopes in the region and even on the continent, has been elevated in status to National Park.
Situated in the southwest of Rwanda, the forest covers 1,000 km2, making it the largest Afro-montane forest in East and Central Africa. It is home to a diverse array of wildlife, but famous for having over 250 different bird species, 161 known Orchids and 13 types of primates including the chimpanzee.
According to Rosette Chantal Rugamba, the deputy CEO in charge of tourism and conservation at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Nyungwe forest is the only place in Africa where one can see a troop of 400 Colobus monkeys in one area. She also pointed out that the park's location in the central Albertine Rift makes it one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world.
"The inaugurating of this park signals ORTPN's determination to make tourism a truly unique experience," Rugamba said. And Nyungwe is a real adventure destination."
She also announced that tourism has become the number one foreign currency earner in the country. "We estimated that tourism will have generated US$ 214 million by the end of the year, and contribute close to 5% of GDP. By November 2008 we had received 987,280 visitors, 4,060 of whom visited Nyungwe; most of them were foreigners," Rugamba said.
In the context if the new status, signage in and around the park has been improved, a lodge of 25 rooms is being constructed by Dubai world in Gisakura and should be completed by July 2009, whereas the Nyungwe View hotel will open its door in April.
The forest also has five campsites for alternative accommodation, and the introduction of six new trails makes that there are now sixteen unique trails to choose from, including a canopy walk. Add to this the visitor center at Uwinka, Rosette Rugamba said, and you have a high-quality destination.
Partnerships
She pointed out that an increase in visitors means more revenue, which will ensure that the park is well protected, and survive for future generations. In this respect, she stressed the importance of partnerships with the local community to ensure that they increase awareness, participation and involvement of everybody living and working in the area of the park.
In order to achieve this, ORTPN makes sure that part of the tourism revenue returns to the communities living close to the park. Among the facilities built with tourism money, Rugamba mentioned schools in Kageyo, Kagano, Matare, Rususa and a dormitory for Apeca School, health centers in Gasumo and Ngange, a maternity ward in Bweyeye, a brigde in Rwabidege.
Yet the RDB deputy CEO acknowledged that much work remains to be done. Among them are the challenges of poaching, gold mining, forest fires lighted by poachers and illegal bee keeping. There are also lesser problems such as motor accidents involving animals because of the highway that runs through the park.
"The animals that we are committed to protect are not innocent either," Rugamba pointed out. "Baboons and jackals have notoriously destroyed food and cash crops as well spreading dangerous diseases like scabies."
Not enough rangers
The game rangers guarding the park have complaints of their own. Claver Ntoyinkima, one of the 70 rangers, said that they need more staff.
"We really need more people because there is a lot to be done in this forest. For example, sometimes people tracking bees create fires in distant places, and there are other illegal activities taking place in various places in the forest. So 70 rangers is really not enough."
According to him, their job is made even more difficult by lack of equipment, especially for communications. Another problem is accommodation, with often seven people having to share a single room.
One of his colleagues from Gisovu post, Theogeni Twizeyimana, added that transport is also a challenge. "There are on many occasions when we learn of illegal activities taking place in the park-for instance people may tell us of trees being cut-but because we don't have sufficient transport to reach these places, these fellows get away with it," he said.
Twizeyimana also mentioned that the rangers should have better jackets. "The weather in this place is tough; it's very cold sometimes, and there are times that we feel like we are freezing. This is also greatly affecting our lives."
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